Pathological Grief: 8 Signs That You Have Not Overcome A Loss
What is pathological grief? How do we know if we are facing complicated grief due to the loss of a loved one? Discover how to identify and act on the feelings of chronic grief.
A natural response to the loss of a loved one is grieving, that is, experiencing feelings of pain, loss and sadness. But when we talk about pathological grief we point out a condition that can occur in some people who have just lost a loved one or are experiencing chronic grief for other reasons.
Indeed, having feelings of pain and negative emotions in the face of a loss is completely normal, but these feelings must evolve and, over time, there must be acceptance and integration of that loved one in the past, with a look toward the future. of what enriched us. In the case of a person who has pathological grief, these emotions related to the loss can be so overwhelming that they end up altering their daily life and, above all, this integration process does not occur, anchoring a feeling of constant loss that does not evolve. But, how can we identify if we are facing a case of chronic grief?
People who suffer from pathological grief They often end up having both their behavior and their thoughts affected due to a loss (whether the death of a loved one or the separation of a marriage or partner). In fact, it is a chronic form of grief that ends up affecting all areas of life.
When grief persists for more than a year and ends up invading many of the person’s routine thoughts, we can speak of pathological grief. According to statistics, 7% of people who suffer grief suffer pathological duels
Symptoms of pathological grief
The symptoms of a complicated or pathological grief They are very similar to those of a ‘normal’ duel. However, while the symptoms of grief disappear over time, people who suffer from this chronic grief end up experiencing them more intensely and persistently. Among the most common signs of these pathological feelings, we find the following:
Avoid memories: People who suffer from a pathological grief They tend to avoid any reminder of the loss.
Obsessive thoughts: People who have a chronic grief They often think obsessively about the loss. So much so that even though time passes, the thoughts around the person do not diminish.
Intense longing: When you suffer from a pathological grief The person usually experiences an intense longing for the deceased or lost person.
Loss of purpose: He chronic grief It can contribute to experiencing existential emptiness. The person with this pathological grief ends up feeling lost or empty due to the loss.
Suicidal thoughts: If this pathological state of grief If not treated properly, the person may experience suicidal thoughts.
Not accepting the loss: In some cases who suffers from this ‘complicated duel’ ‘ may not come to terms with the fact that the loss has occurred.
Loss of appetite: If he pathological grief If complicated, it can also cause loss of appetite.
Insomnia: Obsessive thoughts around the loss can also cause insomnia.
These are some of the symptoms of complicated or pathological grief that can occur in people who suffer from it. If you think this is your case, it is vital that you go to a professional psychologist.
How to identify complicated or pathological grief?
Grief is a completely normal reaction to the loss of a loved one. But, when it is very persistent and is accompanied by dysfunctional behaviors as well as obsessive thoughts, it is important to detect it and go to a mental health specialist. In order to identify a complicated grief We can look at the following:
The loss occurred at least a year ago.
Symptoms of persistent and acute grief, which may include longing for the person who has died, feelings of loneliness, worrying thoughts about the person who has died.
At least two of the symptoms are shock, anger, difficulty trusting other people, inability to accept death.
The symptoms cause significant deterioration in a person’s life.
There are problems continuing with your usual routines.
Avoid places or activities that remind you of the person you lost.
Sleeping problems
Lack of interest in personal care.
Reckless, impulsive, and potentially self-destructive behavior
In many cases, a complicated grief It can be misidentified as a depressive disorder. Although pathological grief shares some of the symptoms such as sadness and hopelessness, depression is a mental disorder.
Causes of pathological grief
Although there is no identified cause that explains why a complicated or pathological grief, some people may be at higher risk of developing these types of conditions than others. Among the factors that can contribute to experiencing pathological grief we find the following:
Experiencing an unexpected loss or death
Have a history of mental disorders
Substance abuse
Experiencing more than one death in a short period
The treatment of a complicated or pathological grief focuses on helping people living with these feelings of loss begin a ‘healing’ process.
Along with the treatment, it is also identified if the chronic grief is accompanied by another mental health condition. In addition to going to therapy with a professional psychologist, it is important to share your pain with other loved ones to cope with feelings of loss and sadness.
